Chapter 61: Double Level Up!

His musings were interrupted by a soft knock on his door. Yan Mei stepped inside, her expression calm yet curious.

"You've been unusually quiet," she said, sitting across from him. "Is something on your mind?"

Feng Lin met her gaze but kept his response vague. "Just thinking about what's ahead. This place... there's more to it than meets the eye."

Yan Mei studied him for a moment, her eyes searching his face. "It feels like you're always holding something back."

He stiffened for a moment but quickly masked it. "I have my reasons."

Yan Mei didn't push further. She leaned back, her posture relaxing. "We'll be ready for whatever comes. But don't carry it all on your own."

Feng Lin smiled softly, appreciating her words but knowing that the system was his burden alone.

The next morning, they gathered in the inn's common area for breakfast. Zhen was unusually chipper, digging into a plate of roasted meat with enthusiasm. "This town's food is worth the trip alone," he said between bites. "What's the plan for today?"

Feng Lin considered his options. He had to get to the ruins without causing suspicion. But a direct approach might raise too many questions.

"We'll take it easy for now," Feng Lin said casually. "Maybe explore the town, see if we can learn anything useful."

Zhen nodded. "Sounds good to me. Maybe we can hit the market again; I saw some interesting artifacts yesterday."

Yan Mei glanced at Feng Lin. "And you? Anything specific you're looking for?"

He shook his head, playing it off. "I'm just curious about this place. Something about it feels... important."

They finished their meal and left the inn, walking through the bustling market once more. The townspeople were friendly enough, but Feng Lin kept his focus sharp, searching for any clues that might lead him to the ruins. His thoughts were interrupted by another system notification.

[System Notification: Quest Update – Ancient Ruins Entrance Located Near the Southern Edge of Town.]

As they wandered closer to the edge of town, Feng Lin noticed a small, unassuming path that led into a densely wooded area. The trees here were older, their bark worn and twisted as if they had stood the test of time. The path was narrow, barely visible amidst the foliage, but Feng Lin could sense the lingering energy in the air.

"This way," he said, leading Yan Mei and Zhen without explanation. They followed without question, trusting his instincts.

The path led them to a clearing, and at the center stood a stone structure, half-buried beneath moss and ivy. It was old, much older than the rest of the town, and the aura it gave off was unmistakable. This was the entrance to the ruins.

Zhen let out a low whistle. "This is what you've been looking for, isn't it?"

Feng Lin nodded. "I think there's something valuable here. We should check it out."

Yan Mei crossed her arms, her brow furrowing. "If this place is as ancient as it looks, we should be cautious. Who knows what's inside?"

Feng Lin agreed, but he couldn't let this opportunity slip away. The system had guided him here for a reason. Without further hesitation, they made their way to the entrance of the stone structure, where a dark, narrow staircase descended into the earth.

The air grew colder as they descended into the ruins. The walls were lined with faded inscriptions, the language long forgotten, but the energy in the air was palpable. Feng Lin felt his Chaos Core resonate faintly with the surroundings. This was no ordinary ruin.

[System Notification: Ruin Scan in Progress…]

[Objective: Discover the Forgotten Relic. Proceed with Caution.]

The deeper they went, the more the atmosphere shifted. It wasn't long before they reached a wide chamber, the centerpiece of which was a large stone pedestal. On it sat a small, intricately carved box, glowing faintly with a soft blue light.

"There," Feng Lin said, his eyes locking onto the box. "That must be it."

Zhen stepped forward but hesitated. "What do you think it is?"

Feng Lin approached the pedestal cautiously. "Only one way to find out."

As he reached for the box, the system gave another notification.

[System Notification: Forgotten Relic Identified. Unlocking Potential Rewards.]

He opened the box, and a pulse of energy surged through the room. Inside lay a small, crystalline fragment, glowing with an ethereal light.

[Relic Acquired: Rune Enhancement Shard.]

The system immediately flashed a new prompt.

[System Notification: Rune Sword Enhancement Available. Do you wish to apply the enhancement?]

Feng Lin nodded mentally.

[Rune Sword Enhanced: +50% Damage Increase, Chaos Energy Infusion Lv 2.]

The sword at his side glowed faintly, the runes along its blade shimmering with renewed energy. It was a significant upgrade, but more importantly, the relic held even greater potential.

Yan Mei and Zhen looked on, intrigued but unaware of the system's involvement.

"Well?" Yan Mei asked, eyeing the shard. "What did we just find?"

Feng Lin smiled. "Something that will definitely help us on our journey."

With the relic secured, it was time to move forward, but this small discovery marked the beginning of something much bigger.

[System Notification: EXP 100,000/100,000 – Level Up! Cultivation Advanced: Qi Condensatio Realm (Low)]

[Current Status Update:

Cultivation Level: Qi Condensation Realm (Low)

EXP: 0/150,000

Health: 100%

Qi Energy: 15,000/15,000

Strength: 3,100

Agility: 2,300

Spirit: 3,500

Perception: 1,700

Luck: 150]